Danny Graham set to complete £4.5m Sunderland move

Martin O’Neill is confident Sunderland fans won’t hold his past against him

While they face competition from Norwich for the Swansea striker, the Black Cats have lodged a £4.5m bid for Graham, who is set to complete the move once Michael Laudrup has brought in a replacement.

Gateshead-born Graham has never hidden his black and white roots and admitted it was a dream come true when he played at St James’ Park with the Swans earlier this season.

But Martin O’Neill is confident Sunderland fans won’t hold his past against him and believes Graham’s qualities will soon win over any doubters.

O’Neill showed the first signs of losing patience with his strikers after Tuesday’s shock FA Cup defeat at the hands of Bolton.

With Fraizer Campbell on his way to Cardiff, Louis Saha set to cut short his ill-fated spell at Sunderland and Connor Wickham failing to take his big chance in the third-round replay, the Sunderland chief has acted quickly to bolster his goalscoring options.

Graham, who started out at Middlesbrough before making his name at Watford, has been a big success with Swansea, but the arrival of Michu has restricted his chances.

Graham is desperate for regular first-team football and has told friends that, despite his background, he would jump at the chance of joining Sunderland.

O’Neill is also keeping tabs on Danish defender Jores Okore, who played against Chelsea for Nordsjaelland in the ­Champions League.